TOPFIVE Mystery Dramas To Watch - Inspired By The Mystery Queen 2 Finale

I recently finished watching Mystery Queen 2 - the second season of Mystery Queen - and I it left me with such a warm, bubbly feeling at the end, as well as an intense need for a third season that'll give viewers some more of the banter between the lead characters as well as some answers to questions that the writers purposefully kept gaping open. You can read my quick review of the season here.

With the end of the season, I figured it might not be a bad idea to compile a short list of some of the more amazing mystery dramas I've watched in my days. These dramas are sure to satisfy anyone's Sherlockian, inquisitive mind.

BLACK

Black was my favorite Korean drama of 2017, and I don't think I'll stop raving about it anytime soon. It's about a foolish grim reaper - that saying will tear your heart out once you watch the drama - and it's quite dark and atmospheric. I know some people aren't huge fans of the actress, Go Ara, but this was my first drama of hers and I have come to absolutely adore her. The plot is wicked brilliant, and the fantasy element just makes it that much more exciting and differentiates it from the other detective/mystery storylines out there. If you're in the United States, it's also available to watch on Netflix.

TUNNEL

This drama features another of my favorite actors, Choi Jin-hyuk. Tunnel is a story about Korean cops dealing with a serial killer who strangles women with stockings. Serial killing was new at the time, so it was impossible to catch the villain. However, the main character ends up traveling to the future through, you guessed it, a tunnel, and he'll meet people that aren't quite so new to him as he thinks that'll help him find the murderer. There's a great cast, again a great atmosphere, and the romance is cute but sits to the side of the actual plot.

Tunnel's lead, Park Gwang-ho, smiling for the camera.

Park Gwang-ho's unwilling partner from the future, Kim Sun-jae.

UNCONTROLLABLY FOND

This one is more romance than mystery, although the crime is actually a big part of the romance. Uncontrollably Fond just so happens to be my favorite kdrama of all time, so it wouldn't be a mistake to say I highly recommend it along with a side of tissues and chocolates. Kim Woo-bin and Suzy are the main leads, and boy do they deliver the emotions. I still tear up whenever I listen to the soundtrack on my commutes to university.

PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Before you ask, no, this isn't a drama based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name. There is a romantic relationship that stems from hatred, but from there the story diverges. The first episode is by far one of the most amazing things I've seen, and the two leads are great. This is a law drama, but the main mystery is about what happened to the female lead's brother, and it turns out that quite a few people are entangled in that mess. This is another drama where the romance is still there, but on a back burner. It's quite good.

MYSTERY QUEEN

And how could I leave out the wonderful drama that inspired this post? Whereas dramas like Black, Tunnel, and Pride & Prejudice are dark and serious with moments of adorable, Mystery Queen is the Korean equivalent of Sherlock, I would say. It's a combination of fun and serious, and it's so well written. There are individual mysteries throughout the episodes as well as a larger mystery that encompasses the seasons. The characters are a delight and make the show, but the plot, dialogue, and mysteries are right up there in terms of excellence.